Theory of the lifetime of the MgO protecting layer in ac plasma display panels

摘要

We have theoretically studied the lifetime of the protecting layer in an ac plasma display panel (ac-PDP) under various discharge gas conditions. The sputtering of the protecting layer by energetic plasma particles is one of the most important elements limiting the lifetime of ac-PDPs. Because of its importance in the lifetime of ac-PDPs, the sputtering yields of the MgO protecting layer by various ions are investigated as a function of their kinetic energies. We calculate the energy distribution of ions bombarding the protecting layer and perform simulations for the discharge characteristics of ac-PDPs under various gas conditions in order to estimate the lifetime of ac-PDPs. By comparing the lifetime for various gas conditions, we can also optimize the gas mixture and pressure to achieve an extended lifetime of the protecting layer.